A Big MAKEOVER...A big THANK YOU

Hi there friends.

I usually do not share much about the professional side of my life here. My job can be very stressful at times. But sometimes it can be very rewarding and full of happy moments.

As some of you already know I work as a social worker for the State of Oregon. I have done this job for over 20 years and, unfortunately I have to say we don't have many happy days nor have we been praised or recognized positively very often... I work with DHS with the Child Welfare agency.

Well, don't get me wrong... We have great days and days in which we feel like we have done great things.

But let me tell you that 2 weeks ago I felt so happy and like I haven't felt in a long time at work.

We had a WONDERFUL group of churches, community partners and volunteers who chose our branch to give a big makeover ... Yes, a makeover like they do on TV.

Some people might think a makeover is a superficial thing, but I have to say their work has done wonders to the worker's moral... to the families coming to visit their children... and most especially to the hundreds of foster parents and children coming to visit our office every day. It was not just a "material" makeover. We felt like we won the lottery. And not just in the material sense of the physical makeover... But also in how many great people we met and the impact this physical makeover will make on some of our families' lives.

Everyone coming to our office feels special and you can see in their eyes and their smiles that they feel important and that someone really cared about them.

I could go on for hours to tell you every detail, how much each person has done and how many hours they have dedicated to do this "makeover" but the biggest "makeover" will really happen in the hearts of each of the children coming to the office, each parent coming to spend time with their children and each foster parent who dedicates their lives to help the children.

Today I just want to express my most humble and heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every person who worked endless hours for the preparation and completion if this project.

We are so thankful and I want to just reinforce I have always believed in miracles and I am certain one has just happened to us ...

Take a look at the difference and how each room was completely redone...

This was our front room...

and that is how it looks now :)

  

These are the kids' and families visiting rooms. Each room has a special theme now :

and this was the observation room 

and that is how it looks now...

And last but not least... here is the staff lunch room before...

and now...

Just an amazing makeover ...

I have to say that what they did was just wonderful and we are so happy. It has been 2 weeks and I still go to the kitchen a couple of times a day just to check and make sure that it is well cared for ...

We are all enjoying it and most of all we are all feeling so special. 

And to show all of us that HE was in charge and that HE was guiding this project, God painted the perfect picture above them all as they were working hard doing what they do best...

helping others and living their lives just like wants them to.

THANK YOU !!!

.

Thank you so very much to the wonderful group of people who participated on this huge effort:

Marc and Susan Estes from City Bible Church

Jillana Goble 

Milan Homola from Compassion Connect

Portland Leadership 

Clear Creek Church

Grace Community Church

Glisan St. Baptist

Gresham Bible Church

Gresham First Baptist

Good Shepherd Community Church

Wood Village Baptist

and numerous business and volunteers who participated in this effort.

(I hope I didn't forget anybody's name...if I did it was not on purpose... I am thankful to you all from my heart)>

We are forever grateful and your effort will have an impact in the lives of so many people we cannot start to count.

May your blessings be too many to count.

...

Before I go just a little glance at a small little crafty thing I made to give to them as a small gesture of how thankful we are ...

Just a little thing to "mark" their lives as they "marked" ours :)

Thanks again, for coming to visit me today. I'm always so happy to hear your comments ... have a wonderful weekend. Loves :)